Perfect Alignment by KB Alan

gets back to Drew? What if his bosses think he’s trying to get a job with Caleb or something?”
    “Emma. Seriously. Don’t you trust Caleb to know how to handle it without messing up?”
    That calmed her down. She did trust Caleb and was certain that part of his job in the security business included getting delicate information. “Fine, but tell him I’m mad at him. Doesn’t
he
trust
me
to go on a date without picking a homicidal maniac?”
    “He just did it because he cares about you.”
    “Yeah, well.” She lay back down. The fabulous tub was one of the reason’s she’d chosen this hotel. “By the way, I forgot to say thanks for distracting him from the phone when I called to check in. I appreciate you and Richard taking one for the team.”
    “Two.”
    “What?”
    “Well, we took two for the team.”
    They both laughed and then said their goodbyes. Emma tossed the phone lightly to land on a towel where it would be safe, then closed her eyes. Sighing, she swirled the hot water up over her breasts then toyed with her necklace. When she’d bought it, she’d never imagined it leading to an encounter like what had happened that day. Her thoughts had been more along the lines of her need to embrace her alternative side as fully as possible this last year before heading back home.
    It wasn’t that she planned on giving up the lifestyle completely. She didn’t think she’d do well in a vanilla relationship. But visits to BDSM clubs would have to be few and very far between. Maybe a once yearly vacation to San Francisco. It was just too risky, playing any closer to home.
    Though she fully understood that her need to please her parents wasn’t entirely healthy, she also knew that she could never risk hurting them by having them discover this side of her. She wasn’t ashamed, but she couldn’t expect them to understand, and didn’t want them to have to struggle with the shame that they would automatically feel for her.
    As much as being a submissive was a part of who she was, so was keeping her family happy. Maybe it wasn’t the healthiest attitude in the world, but it worked for her. So she’d decided to have a little fling with her sexuality, and really make this year count. Then, when she graduated, she’d settle down into “real life” and figure out a balance between the two aspects that were so important to her.
    Of course, she’d expected to have all her fun at the club. But maybe meeting Drew would give her a chance to figure out how to play with someone discreetly, outside the club scene. She leaned her head back and decided to stop worrying about the future for the rest of the night.
    Instead, she could concentrate on the more mundane worry of whether Drew would actually call. She thought he would. There was just a tiny part of her that doubted. A totally and completely ridiculous worry, which was why she hadn’t mentioned it to Taryn.
    Drew wasn’t some fraternity stud trying to rack notches on his belt. He was an adult, one who’d enjoyed his time with her as far as she could tell. She’d had her share of dates with losers who never called, she should be able to tell the difference between them and a stand-up guy by now. And she could. She was positive he would call. Positive she would see him.
    Ugh, she was annoying herself. And being such a girl. Did guys have these ridiculous insecurities and tendencies to overthink every freaking thing? She suspected not. The bastards.
    Laughing at herself, she bent her knees and submerged herself under the hot water for as long as her breath lasted. When she came up, she wiped hair and water from her face and pulled the plug on the tub. Careful not to fling water around, she dried her hands on the towel before moving her cell phone to the safety of the counter, then toweled herself dry.
    The bathroom had a large mirror and when she dropped the towel and grabbed the plush robe, she stopped and stared at her reflection. She wasn’t an unattractive